School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) referrals for NDIS coordinators

A two-year bridge from school to work for young people — work experience, travel training and workplace skills that open up real options.

NDIS registration group: School leaver employment supports

What SLES is under the NDIS

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is an individualised, time-limited NDIS capacity building support that helps young people with disability move from school into work. It is designed for participants in their final years of school or who have recently finished Year 12, giving them a structured pathway to build the skills, confidence and independence they need to pursue open or supported employment.

SLES is funded under Capacity Building in the Finding and Keeping a Job support category. Rather than being a job placement service, it focuses on foundational work-readiness — work experience, travel training, communication, and workplace skills — tailored to the participant’s employment goals. Supports can be delivered one-to-one or in small groups, in community and workplace settings.

SLES is generally provided for a limited period (commonly up to around two years after leaving school) as a transition support. It is intended to bridge the gap between finishing education and entering the workforce, and often links into other pathways such as Disability Employment Services (DES) or supported employment once the participant is ready.

What it covers

Who it suits

A coordinator refers for SLES when a participant is in their last years of school or has recently finished Year 12 and has an employment goal but needs to build work-readiness skills first. It suits young people with disability who want to work but are not yet ready for open or supported employment, and who benefit from structured, hands-on capacity building during the transition from school to the workforce.

How to refer SLES on Novida

Start by searching Novida for verified SLES providers in the participant’s area. You can filter by location and support type to find providers who deliver School Leaver Employment Supports, then review their profile to confirm they run programs suited to the participant’s goals, age group and any group-versus-individual preferences.

Before making contact, check the provider’s registration status against the participant’s plan management type and confirm they have current capacity to take a new referral, as many SLES programs run on intake cycles or cohort start dates. Then contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, the relevant Finding and Keeping a Job line items and budget, desired frequency, program start timing, and any specific requirements or support needs.

Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact the provider directly and manage the relationship from there, so there is no third party handling consent, plan details or the participant’s information on your behalf.

What to check before you refer

SLES — NDIS price limits (2026–27)

How it’s priced

SLES is priced as an hourly capacity building support under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide), within the Finding and Keeping a Job support category. Rates vary by delivery model, so confirm current price limits on ndis.gov.au and check whether the program is delivered one-to-one or in a group.

Coordinator FAQs — SLES

Is SLES funded in every NDIS plan?
No. SLES funding must be specifically included in the plan under Capacity Building — Finding and Keeping a Job. Before referring, check that this support category is funded and that the budget covers the intended frequency and program length. If employment goals are present but SLES funding is not, you may need to raise it at plan review…
How long can a participant access SLES?
SLES is a time-limited transition support, commonly provided for up to around two years after a participant leaves school. It is intended to bridge school and employment rather than continue indefinitely. The exact duration depends on the participant’s goals, progress and plan funding, so plan the pathway with an eventual move to DES,…
Does a SLES provider need to be registered?
It depends on plan management. If the participant is NDIA-managed, they must use an NDIS-registered provider. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can generally use registered or unregistered providers. SLES is not one of the supports where registration is legally mandated in itself (unlike behaviour support or SDA), so always check…
What is the difference between SLES and DES?
SLES is an NDIS-funded capacity building support that prepares a young person for work. Disability Employment Services (DES) is a separate Commonwealth employment program that helps people find and keep a job. They are complementary: SLES builds work-readiness first, then DES supports the actual job search and placement. Coordinators…
Can a participant still at school access SLES?
SLES is generally accessed after finishing Year 12, though some participants begin engaging in their final year. Supports provided during school hours that are the responsibility of the education system are not NDIS-funded. Confirm the participant’s school leaver status and check that SLES activity does not duplicate supports the school…
Can SLES be delivered in a group?
Yes. SLES can be delivered one-to-one or in small groups, and many providers run structured group programs alongside individual sessions. Group delivery is often used for skill-building activities and social learning, while one-to-one supports target individual goals like specific workplace tasks or travel training. Pricing differs…
What happens when SLES ends?
SLES is designed to transition the participant into a next step — open employment, supported employment through an Australian Disability Enterprise, DES, or further capacity building. As coordinator, plan the exit pathway early and use the participant’s progress and provider reports at plan review to justify the supports that follow, so…
What evidence supports a SLES referral?
The strongest referrals include a documented employment goal in the plan, confirmation of school leaver status, and Finding and Keeping a Job funding. Provider intake often also considers the participant’s current skills, support needs and interests. Send a complete referral with consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, relevant line…
Does SLES cover transport to placements?
Travel training — teaching the participant to travel independently — is a core part of SLES. However, funding for the participant’s actual transport costs is treated separately and may draw on transport funding in the plan rather than the SLES budget. Confirm how travel is being funded before referring, and clarify with the provider how…

Related NDIS registration groups

How to check a provider’s credentials

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